I know this phrase gets over used, but the Tower will be a game-changer.

It will not only offer two great bars plus a great live music venue, it will also really tie together all Uptown, creating a full-realized nightlife district with the Blue Note, Rockford, Back Door BBQ, Tuckers, Cheevers and more coming to the east, with Big Truck Tacos, The Rise, The Drake, Pizzeria Gusto, The Pump, Pizza 23, Guernsey Park, Guyutes and several more places coming to the west.

And when you walk inside the Tower you really get a feeling of excitement; pictures don't do it justice. Very, very cool and unique setting.

For example, the upstairs of Savings & Loan has glass doors that open to a hallway leading straight to the balcony. History and character all over the place.

Do we know what's going in the other retail space between the theater and the unnamed new bar on the far west end ?

Do we know what's going in the other retail space between the theater and the unnamed new bar on the far west end ?

Not leased yet. They really want to get a breakfast place for that spot.

Venues have only been half of the issue. Promoters, too.

Yeah, look at the Diamond Ballroom. An old bowling alley that brings in the best mid-size shows in OKC. A lot of the same shows that play the Cain's Ballroom, play there on the same of second leg of a tour. If The Chevy, Criterion or FM could get a food promoter (which I think The Criterion's is great) they could do wonders for the OKC live music scene. Couple that with the new alt rock station and old school hip hop station and OKC music is bound to do better.

Yeah, look at the Diamond Ballroom. An old bowling alley that brings in the best mid-size shows in OKC. A lot of the same shows that play the Cain's Ballroom, play there on the same of second leg of a tour. If The Chevy, Criterion or FM could get a food promoter (which I think The Criterion's is great) they could do wonders for the OKC live music scene. Couple that with the new alt rock station and old school hip hop station and OKC music is bound to do better.

Not that it matters much in this discussion, but the Diamond isn't an old bowling alley, it started out as a ballroom/concert hall in the 60s, just wanted to clear that up.

Not that it matters much in this discussion, but the Diamond isn't an old bowling alley, it started out as a ballroom/concert hall in the 60s, just wanted to clear that up.

I wondered about that too. I was involved in bowling in OKC since the middle 50's and have been in every bowling alley that existed here since then. I never remembered a bowling alley there.

It was purpose-built as a dance hall. The location is terrible. The site is terrible. It is lousy for performers as there is no backstage. The door behind the stage opens to a gravel parking lot. Many acts choose to utilize their buses/vans as a green room and dressing room, which stinks for performers. The sound in the back of the hall is awful.

That said, if you are seeing a show with 500 to 1000 or so people, and are willing to stay between the sound boards and the stage, it actually has fine acoustics and is an acceptable place to see a show. I have actually seen many shows there that I count among my favorites.

The new venues, however, will render the room irrelevant, ESPECIALLY due to location. I expect that it will end up as mostly a metal show place. The owner (DCF) is actually capable of booking great shows, but is biased to the Tulsa market because they've never much believed in OKC and knew that if they booked Tulsa, many OKC folks would be willing to drive up and bolster attendance. They are going to have to change that tune and quit, or they'll be killed in the OKC market, and probably still will, anyway.

I wondered about that too. I was involved in bowling in OKC since the middle 50's and have been in every bowling alley that existed here since then. I never remembered a bowling alley there.A guy named Smitty Walter could have indeed operated a black market bowling alley that you or anyone else had not heard of. I have it under good authority, that Smitty Walter, did in fact, invent a time machine to go back in time, open up a black market bowling alley, just to make this post true. if

A guy named Smitty Walter could have indeed operated a black market bowling alley that you or anyone else had not heard of. I have it under good authority, that Smitty Walter, did in fact, invent a time machine to go back in time, open up a black market bowling alley, just to make this post true. if
Sleep, plupan. LOL

It was purpose-built as a dance hall. The location is terrible. The site is terrible. It is lousy for performers as there is no backstage. The door behind the stage opens to a gravel parking lot. Many acts choose to utilize their buses/vans as a green room and dressing room, which stinks for performers. The sound in the back of the hall is awful.

That said, if you are seeing a show with 500 to 1000 or so people, and are willing to stay between the sound boards and the stage, it actually has fine acoustics and is an acceptable place to see a show. I have actually seen many shows there that I count among my favorites.

The new venues, however, will render the room irrelevant, ESPECIALLY due to location. I expect that it will end up as mostly a metal show place. The owner (DCF) is actually capable of booking great shows, but is biased to the Tulsa market because they've never much believed in OKC and knew that if they booked Tulsa, many OKC folks would be willing to drive up and bolster attendance. They are going to have to change that tune and quit, or they'll be killed in the OKC market, and probably still will, anyway.

Good. And excellent synopsis. I'm tired of people holding this city back.

A video update from the Oklahoman.

OKC Central blog player (http://bcove.me/kc6hojsd)

A video update from the Oklahoman.

OKC Central blog player (http://bcove.me/kc6hojsd)

EXCELLENT video story from NewsOK.com. Definitely worth the 3+ minutes!

For those who haven't seen this, it's a good time to share some of the goodness from Doug Loudenback. A nice history of the theater.
Doug Dawgz Blog: The Tower Theatre (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2009/09/tower-theatre.html)

`

This is going to be so cool and it sounds like there will be all types of events to draw people in.


As much as I love going out to bars and restaurants, we really do need more things to do at night in this town other than just eat and drink. Hope this leads to lots more live music, art house theaters, live theater, etc.

As much as I love going out to bars and restaurants, we really do need more things to do at night in this town other than just eat and drink. Hope this leads to lots more live music, art house theaters, live theater, etc.

Completely agree with this. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of shows come to the Tower Theater.

This is going to be so cool and it sounds like there will be all types of events to draw people in.


As much as I love going out to bars and restaurants, we really do need more things to do at night in this town other than just eat and drink. Hope this leads to lots more live music, art house theaters, live theater, etc.

I agree in hoping for this to provide additional options. I find, however, that OKC already provides more of those kind of things than I could possibly have time to attend and I do patronize a lot of them. :)

https://twitter.com/TowerTheatreOKC/status/684535951759028224



The Tower Theatre
‏@TowerTheatreOKC
New Year, New Me! You are ALL invited to attend the official re-lighting of the marquee, this Friday at 5:30pm!

I might just have to attend that.

I'll attend it. Seems cool!

It looks like they are doing tours after they light the sign at 5:30 tonight?

Behold!



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/t010815a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/t010815b.JPG


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/t010815c.JPG

So cool!

Oh, it really is. The inside is fantastic, and there were tons of people here.

12046

Wow! Hopefully they have events that can match the magnitude of the space. This needs to be more than a museum.

Looks great! Congratulations to David and all those involved!
Great article at nondoc - Lights up: Tower Theater turns on the neon in OKC - NonDoc (http://nondoc.com/2016/01/09/lights-up-tower-theater-turns-on-the-neon-in-okc/)

Does anyone know if they will continue to keep the sign lit up at night prior to the venue opening?

Very nice work on the sign.

Does anyone know if they will continue to keep the sign lit up at night prior to the venue opening?

It's been on in the evenings.

Looks spectacular. Lights up the whole block.

I really like it and it is a great centerpiece for the 23rd St corridor. I am so glad this is coming back to life. The Tower Theater situation seemed hopeless for so long, kind of like First National. It's amazing to see this coming together.

It has been mentioned that movies will be shown there as well which is good. OKC has needed a good theater for independent films like Circle Cinema in Tulsa.

Just so you know, the Museum of Art downtown shows a good number of independent films.

Film | Oklahoma City Museum of Art | OKCMOA (http://www.okcmoa.com/films/)

Not to derail this any further, but the OKCMOA films fill a need toward the "arty" end of the film spectrum, but there are a significant number of films that fall between their selection and what Cinemark is able to fill a theater with. A true indie theater would fill that void.

Not to derail this any further, but the OKCMOA films fill a need toward the "arty" end of the film spectrum, but there are a significant number of films that fall between their selection and what Cinemark is able to fill a theater with. A true indie theater would fill that void.

Absolutely. Classic films are shown at the OKCMOA, but they are far unbalanced toward the art house films. Which is great, I think it fits the MOA. But it leaves a huge hole for a theater that has better balance and more of a fun theater atmosphere versus the experience provided at the OKCMOA and the current configuration of the old Centre Theater. Not that it's bad, it fits with its parent non-profit and I enjoy it very much, it's just different than what Mr. Cotter wrote above.

They are really getting close now... Pretty much all the common areas, restrooms, etc are finished or just being painted.

Theater itself now has refinished seating in the balcony; removable seating will go on the main floor.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tower021616a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tower021616b.jpg

They are really getting close now... Pretty much all the common areas, restrooms, etc are finished or just being painted.

Theater itself now has refinished seating in the balcony; removable seating will go on the main floor.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tower021616a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tower021616b.jpg

Stunning, and completely unrecognizable from the last time I visited the place (I'm pretty certain is was a Mimsies concert, if anyone remembers that band from back in the post-punk heyday).

New signage on the north side of the building:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tower022716.jpg

That's pretty fantastic.

Are there plans to allow the home made skate park to remain for the time being? It's one of my favorite aspects of my neighborhood.

Are there plans to allow the home made skate park to remain for the time being? It's one of my favorite aspects of my neighborhood.

Only until the building on the NE corner of 23rd & Walker gets renovated and leased.

There are plans to clean up that whole area and make it parking.

Only until the building on the NE corner of 23rd & Walker gets renovated and leased.
There are plans to clean up that whole area and make it parking.

Can't let this one fly under the radar. Is the building changing hands?

Can't let this one fly under the radar. Is the building changing hands?

No, not changing hands but I met with Teresa Tran the current owner and also looked at her plans.

They want to put in a small restaurant in the space on 23rd right next to the Tower, then put a small patio in the back.

The big space on the corner will be subdiived, renovated and leased to multiple tenants.


Did not get the feeling any of this was imminent, just what she'd like to do. She hasn't done anything with that property in years.

Edit - posted to wrong thread.

No, not changing hands but I met with Teresa Tran the current owner and also looked at her plans.
They want to put in a small restaurant in the space on 23rd right next to the Tower, then put a small patio in the back.
The big space on the corner will be subdiived, renovated and leased to multiple tenants.
Did not get the feeling any of this was imminent, just what she'd like to do. She hasn't done anything with that property in years.

Ok thanks. I'll keep it positive.

Pipe dreams my friends...pipe dreams. She's had plans since early 2013 when the rise was announced. And the only action in 3 years was a free paint job from a charity. 2 different brokers who dropped the client. And a few different for lease signs. Last broker I talked to said she no longer wanted to sell, now she'll lease 9,000sf for $30/ft NNN with no allowance. I asked if she had a lawyer handling the lease or a document he says no. That was over a year ago. He's no longer with the client.

The two small spaces are demo'd I saw before the paper went up. 443 has a building permit issued. It looks like 445 does not but so I believe it's safe to assume they're combining the properties. 445 appears to have an open electric permit from 2011 after being busted and work stopped, no work completed. Also some mild activity from a contractor named Mike Barlow from 2013, no work completed. Looks like about 1100 feet total.

^

There was an application for a liquor license last year that showed the space closest to the Tower as a restaurant and bar with a small outside patio.

When I met her about 3 weeks ago, she said she had a partner for a restaurant. I told her I knew of several people who might be interested, but she insisted she had someone.


Still, I agree that her otherwise complete lack of action does not bode well.

I don't think they got as far as applying to ABLE for a license. But I do remember she tried to rezone to ABC 2 and was denied because the board wasn't buying it. The bar was bigger than the kitchen or something like that. They don't need the PUD to build it. Hell I don't even know if you need the zoning to operate it. I've never heard of the city auditing a restaurant to see if they're actually operating inside the food/liquor sales ratio. OTC doesn't care. And ABLE doesn't even ask.

All the bar/restaurants in the plaza district I believe operate ABC 2. And I wouldn't be surprised if they were not hitting the ratio. Which I believe is 60/40 food to liquor. But I've seen the city classifications that has to be tied to the city liquor sales permit (8 mind boggling setups between ratios and age of employees and customers) and a all ages restaurant has to operate at 70/30 food to liquor. Oh the bureaucracy! :)

Double post.

How far away are they from opening? It seems like they're getting close, which means concert announcements can't be far away. I'm really looking forward to seeing the types of shows they bring in... and if the Criterion is any indicator they should be great.

April is what they have said but Savings & Loan will be open sooner.

Figured this article could go in this thread as well.

New crossing planned near OKC's Tower Theater | News OK (http://newsok.com/new-crossing-planned-near-okcs-tower-theater/article/5486588)

Saw Daniel Chae, owner of Chae, is going to open a bar at the Tower Theatre specializing in steamed buns this summer.

Saw Daniel Chae, owner of Chae, is going to open a bar at the Tower Theatre specializing in steamed buns this summer.

To be directly east of the Bunker Club.

Cathey says bar but I think he means counter. Due to the size of the space and the street food nature of steambuns. I predict a takeaway counter with a handful of seats or a ledge for noshing, better yet, eat them in line for the show! Plus I don't think the pivot guys would want 3 of 4 storefronts to be bars. There were murmurs of Snooze going into the anchor space, but that's long dead, or at least the rumor has gone cold. A breakfast lunch place like hatch would be ideal though.

Chae to open concept in Tower Theatre; Rococo announces two clambakes | News OK (http://newsok.com/chae-to-open-concept-in-tower-theatre-rococo-announces-two-clambakes/article/5487442)

Snooze didn't say no, just 'not now'.

May still happen down the road.

Indeed. Dead may be a bit harsh. Which is why I said "gone cold" I don't know how long the landlord would want to wait. I think they decided to expand into austin first. Which is a big enough town to support at least 2 stores. So it may be awhile... It's a helluva space regardless.

One of the bartenders at Savings and Loan said that the first show is scheduled for mid August, so we now have a bit of a deadline of completion.

One of the bartenders at Savings and Loan said that the first show is scheduled for mid August, so we now have a bit of a deadline of completion.
It's Jabee August 13th.

Here is the latest lease plan for the ground floor.

Bunker Club is now under construction and the Chae spin-off should be starting soon.

I know they really wanted Snooze for that large space and may still be holding out for them, or something similar (breakfast / lunch).

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/tower072516.jpg

Snooze?! Like Denver Snooze? That would be incredible and perfect for this location.